Multifunction Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A configuration for an image reading device, an image forming device or a multifunction apparatus may include systems and arrangements for routing electrical flexible flat cables to reduce potential damage and noise. The positioning and connection points between various other components including reading portions, hinge members, a control circuit board and the like may also be configured to reduce size, noise and potential for damage.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2010-069819, filed on Mar. 25, 2010, the entire subject matter andcontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the invention relate to a multifunction apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A known image reading apparatus includes a main unit and an openableunit which is rotatably connected via a hinge member to the main unit.

In the image reading apparatus, the openable unit includes a documenttray on which a document is placed, a feeder that feeds the documentalong a feed path, and a reading portion which is disposed facing thefeed path and configured to read an image of the document passingthrough the feed path. The main unit includes a main unit-side readingportion which is disposed facing the feed path and configured to read animage of a document passing along the feed path, and a control circuitboard configured to perform controls based on output signals of thereading portion and/or output signals of the main unit-side readingportion. Additionally, a cable configured to transmit output signals ofthe reading portion to the control circuit board may be included on arear side of the main unit and the openable unit.

Generally, in the image reading apparatus, the feeder, the readingportion, and the main unit-side reading portion operate under control ofthe control circuit board, and an image reading process that reads animage of a document passing the feed path is performed.

The image reading apparatus may further include an image forming unitwhich is disposed in the main unit and configured to form an image on arecording medium. As the image forming unit operates under the controlof the control circuit board, the image reading apparatus can beregarded as a multifunction apparatus capable of performing an imagereading process for reading an image of a document and an image formingprocess for forming an image on a recording medium.

In the past, a thick cable has been used to transmit the output signalsof the reading portion of the openable unit to the control circuit boardof the main unit. However, the cable has, in at least some instances,been substituted for a flexible flat cable of which a plurality ofcoated wires are united to form a flat shape. However, if the flexibleflat cable is excessively twisted or bent in a routing path or therouting path is too long, the flexible flat cable is likely to sustainundesired problems such as a break or noise. As a result, in an imagereading or image forming process, irregularity in an image may occur.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure may provide a multifunction apparatusconfigured to reduce irregularity in an image in an image reading orforming process. In one example, the multifunction apparatus may includea main unit and an openable unit, where the main unit and the openableunit are connected via a hinge member such that the openable unit ispivotable (e.g., rotatable) about a rotational axis relative to the mainunit. The hinge member, in some arrangements, may be disposed on a rearside of the main unit and a rear side of the openable unit. The mainunit may include an image forming unit configured to form an image on arecording medium and/or a control circuit board configured to controlthe image forming unit and to perform controls for forming an image on arecording medium. The openable unit may include a document tray on whicha document is placed, a feeder configured to feed the document placed onthe document tray along a feed path, and a reading portion disposedfacing the feed path and configured to read an image of the documentpassing through the feed path. Additionally, the multifunction apparatusmay, in one or more arrangements, include a flexible flat cableconfigured to transmit an output signal of the reading portion to thecontrol circuit board, the control circuit board being configured tocontrol the image forming unit based on the output signal of the readingportion. The control circuit board may, for example, be disposed, insidethe main unit, and generally parallel and closer to a first side surfaceof the main unit than to a second side surface of the main unit oppositeto the first side surface, wherein the first and second side surfacesare perpendicularly adjacent to the rear side of the main unit.Furthermore, according to one or more arrangements, the reading portionmay be disposed closer to the first side surface of the main unit thanto the second side surface. When viewed from the rear side of the mainunit, a first distance between the flexible flat cable and a flatsurface, is less than a second distance between the hinge member and theflat surface, wherein the flat surface extends along and parallel to thecontrol circuit board and extends vertically between the openable unitand the main unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative aspects of the invention will be described in detail withreference to the following figures in which like elements are labeledwith like numbers and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multifunction apparatus according toan illustrative embodiment, in which an automatic document feeder (ADF)is in a closed state;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the multifunction apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the multifunction apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the multifunction apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the multifunction apparatus of FIG. 1with the ADF in an open state;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the multifunction apparatus takenalong the line A-A of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example internal structure ofa multifunction apparatus according to one or more aspects describedherein;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the multifunction apparatus takenalong the line B-B of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the multifunction apparatus, inwhich the ADF is in a closed state, taken along the line C-C of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an example guide unit of amultifunction apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the multifunction apparatus, inwhich the ADF is in an open state, taken along the line C-C of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the multifunction apparatusillustrating the guide unit and a cover portion when the ADF is open;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the multifunction apparatus takenalong the line C-C of FIG. 4, in which the ADF is spaced upwardly apartfrom the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the multifunction apparatus with anexample guide unit being inserted in an opening of the multifunctionapparatus according to one or more aspects described herein;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an example routing layout of theflexible flat cable, a main unit-side flexible flat cable and a wiringcable in the multifunction apparatus;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an example contact prevention mechanismof the multifunction apparatus; and

FIG. 17 is an example diagrammatic sketch of the contact preventionmechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative embodiment of the invention will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a multifunction apparatus 10 is capable ofperforming a variety of functions and operations including an imagereading process in which an image of a document is read and convertedinto electronic data, an image forming process in which an image isformed on a recording medium (e.g. a sheet of paper or transparency)based on the electronic data, a communication process where theelectronic data is transmitted to and received from an external device,and other processes. In a particular example, when the image readingprocess is activated, executed or used, the multifunction apparatus 10may operate as an image reading apparatus. In FIG. 1, a side of themultifunction apparatus 10 having an operation panel 3 is referred to asthe front or front side of the multifunction apparatus 10, and anopposite side is referred to as the rear or rear side of themultifunction apparatus 10. The top or upper side, the bottom or lowerside, the left or left side, the right or right side, the front or frontside, and the rear or rear side of the multifunction apparatus 10 areidentified as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. With regard to variousindividual objects of the multifunction apparatus 1, sides of theindividual objects are similarly identified (e.g., based on the arrowsshown in FIG. 1) based on the arranged/attached position of the objecton/in the multifunction apparatus 10.

The general structure of the example multifunction apparatus 10 will bedescribed.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the multifunction apparatus 10 may includemultiple portions including a main unit 20, and an automatic documentfeeder (ADF) 11. The ADF 11 is an example of an openable unit orapparatus as described in this disclosure.

As shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the ADF 11 isdisposed above the main unit 20 so as to cover the top surface of themain unit 20. As shown in FIGS. 2-5, a pair of supporting members, e.g.hinge members 49R and 49L, are disposed between an upper end of the rearside of the main unit 20 and a lower end of the rear side of the ADF 11and spaced apart from each other in the right-left direction. The ADF 11is configured to pivot around a rotation axis R1 extending in theright-left direction via the hinge members 49R and 49L and with respectto the main unit 20. By raising or lowering the front portion of the ADF11 (e.g., opposite the side on which the hinge members 49R and 49L aredisposed), the ADF 11 is configured to move between an open staterelative to the main unit 20 shown in FIG. 1 and a closed state shown inFIG. 5. In one example, when the ADF 11 is in the open state, the topsurface of the main unit 20 is at least partially exposed. In somearrangements, the top surface of the main unit 20 is entirely exposedwhen ADF 11 is moved to the open state or position.

In the illustrated embodiment, while the hinge member 49R may correspondto a normal hinge mechanism that only permits the pivotal movementaround the rotation axis R1, the hinge member 49L may include a knownfree stop function (not shown). The free stop function allows the ADF 11to be brought to a stop at an angle between the open state and theclosed state (e.g., without a user having to physically hold the ADF 11at the angle). The ADF 11 has center of gravity G shifted to the left asshown in FIG. 3 because a feeder 42 is located on the left side. Thus,the hinge member 49L having the free stop function is located verticallydownward with respect to a line passing through the center of gravity Gand extending in the front-rear direction. When viewed from the rearside of the main unit 20 and the ADF 11, the hinge member 49L having thefree stop function is located along the vertical axis of the center ofgravity G (e.g., vertically aligned with the center of gravity G). Withthis location, the hinge member 49L supports the weight of the ADF 11 inbalance, which facilitates the movement of the ADF 11 between the openstate and the closed state. The free stop function of hinge member 49Lfurther allows the ADF 11 to stop (e.g., self-support) at an angleduring movement between the open state and the closed state. Thisimproves a degree of ease of operation by the user in moving the ADF 11with respect to the main unit 20.

Additionally, in one or more arrangements, the hinge member 49L isseparated from a left side surface 20B of the main unit 20 (along whicha control circuit board 201, which will be later described, isdisposed), and thus a flexible flat cable 7A and a main unit-sideflexible flat cable 7B, which will also be described later, can bearranged in an unoccupied space between the hinge member 49L and theleft side surface 20B.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.4. As shown in FIG. 6, the hinge member 49L has a columnar portionextending downward (e.g., toward a bottom of main unit 20). Thiscolumnar portion of the hinge member 49L is inserted in a guide hole 20Athat is a recessed portion extending downward from the top surface ofthe main unit 20 on the rear side. The configuration of the hinge member49L inserted into guide hole 20A allows the hinge member 49L to move upand down (e.g., vertically) in the guide hole 20A relative to the mainunit 20. Although not shown, the hinge member 49R may also include acolumnar portion extending downward in similar fashion to the hingemember 49L. Accordingly, the columnar portion of the hinge member 49Rmay be inserted into another guide hole 20A recessed in the main unit20, allowing the hinge member 49R to move up and down in the guide hole20A relative to the main unit 20. The ADF 11, which is connected to themain unit 20 via the hinge members 49R and 49L, is thus, also capable ofand configured to move up and down (e.g., vertically) relative to themain unit 20.

The main unit 20 will now be described in additional detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front side of the main unit 20 includes theoperation panel 3. The operation panel 3 is configured to receive inputfrom a user and display a processing status of and other informationrelating to the multifunction apparatus 10. For example, network setupmenus and information, an ink or toner level, document name, datadestination identification and the like may be displayed in operationpanel 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main unit 20 includes an imageforming unit 29 that is configured to form an image on a recordingmedium, e.g., a sheet of paper or a transparency sheet. The imageforming unit 29 may correspond to any type of image forming systemincluding an electrophotographic type, an inkjet type, and other knowntypes. Once an image has been formed on a recording medium by the imageforming unit 29, the recording medium is ejected toward a main unit-sideejection tray 29A (FIG. 1), which opens to the front side of the mainunit 20 under the operation panel 3 and extends generally horizontallytoward the rear side. Although not described in detail, as shown in FIG.6, the rear side of the main unit 20 includes a main unit-side hingemember 29B positioned generally (vertically) level with the mainunit-side ejection tray 29A. An upper portion of the main unit 20 (e.g.,portion of the main unit 20 above the main unit-side ejection tray 29A)is pivotally connected to a lower portion thereof (e.g., portion of themain unit 20 below the main unit-side ejection tray 29A) via the mainunit-side hinge member 29B. Main unit-side ejection tray 29A may beformed by a gap between the upper portion and the lower portion of themain unit 20.

Referring to the block diagram of FIG. 7, the main unit 20 may include avariety of components such as a control circuit board 201 serving as aprocessing portion that performs controls for structural elements withinthe ADF 11, the operational panel 3 and image forming unit 29, a powersupply portion 202 that supplies power to each structural element, and acommunication portion 203 that communicates with external devices viaLAN, telephone lines, and other types of wired and wireless networks(e.g., cellular networks, satellite networks, Wide Area Networks (WANs)such as the Internet).

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the control circuit board 201 is, insome embodiments, disposed inside the main unit 20 and generallyparallel to a left side surface 20B of the main unit 20. To shrink orreduce the size of the apparatus, the space between the control circuitboard 201 and the left side surface 20B of the main unit 20 may benarrowed. In the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, a readingportion 24 is disposed closer to left side surface 20B of main unit 20than to the right side surface of main unit 20. Additionally, sinceelectromagnetic noise may occur from the power supply portion 202, thepower supply portion 202 is at least partially shielded fromelectromagnetic noise and disposed apart from the control circuit board201 and the communication portion 203.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the top side of the main unit 20 includes acontact glass 22. The contact glass 22 includes a first glass 79 on theleft, and a second glass 80 on the right. The first glass 79 is usedwhen an image is read by a main unit-side reading portion 25 at a fixedposition. The second glass 80 is used when an image is read by the mainunit-side reading portion 25 which moves. A document separation member81 is interposed between the first glass 79 and the second glass 80. Thesecond glass 80 includes a surface facing upward, where the upwardfacing surface functions as a document receiving surface 22A on which adocument (in the form of a sheet or book) to be read is received orplaced.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an interior of the main unit 20 includes amain unit-side reading portion 25, which is disposed under the contactglass 22. In one example, the main unit-side reading portion 25 mayinclude an image reading sensor, such as a contact image sensor (CIS)and a charge coupled device (CCD). In this example embodiment, a CIS isused. In FIG. 8, the interior of the main unit 20 includes a slide shaft78 which extends in a left-right direction and is fixed to inner sidesurfaces of a casing of the main unit 20. The main unit-side readingportion 25 is slidably supported by the slide shaft 78. During standby,the main unit-side reading portion 25 is located under the left end ofthe second glass 80. The main unit-side reading portion 25 is configuredto slide in the left-right direction (which is a sub scanning directionof the main unit-side reading portion 25) along the slide shaft 78. Inone example, the main unit-side reading portion 25 is driven by a pulleybelt mechanism (not shown) based on control signals from the controlcircuit board 201.

As shown in FIG. 3, in a standby state, the main unit-side readingportion 25 is located closer to the upper portion of the control circuitboard 201. When viewed from above, the main scanning direction(extending in the front-rear direction, perpendicular to the drawingsheet of FIG. 3) of the main unit-side reading portion 25 is shiftedfrom the main scanning direction of the reading portion 24. In aparticular example, the main unit-side reading portion 25 is disposedcloser to the hinge member 49L rather than the reading portion 24, andthe reading portion 24 is shifted to the left and spaced a specifieddistance apart from the main unit-side reading portion 25. As will bedescribed later, this arrangement facilitates routing layout of a mainunit-side flexible flat cable 7B such that it extends downward along andon the right side of the flexible flat cable 7A. As a result, an overlapsection between L1 and L2, which will be described in further detailbelow, can be shortened.

When the user puts a document or a book open on the second glass 80(e.g., FIGS. 5 and 8) to read an image formed on a surface of thedocument or the book facing the second glass 80 (FIGS. 5 and 8) (e.g.,when automatic document reading operation of the ADF 11 is not used) themain unit-side reading portion 25 moves from the left end to the rightend under the second glass 80 (FIGS. 5 and 8) to read the image formedon the surface of the document or the book. The output signals(including image data) of the main unit-side reading portion 25 aretransmitted to the control circuit board 201 via the main unit-sideflexible flat cable 7B, which electrically connects the main unit-sidereading portion 25 and the control circuit board 201 in the main unit20, as shown in FIG. 7. Based on the output signals of the mainunit-side reading portion 25, the control circuit board 201 createsprint data for the image of the document or controls the image formingunit 29 to perform controls for forming an image on a recording medium.

The ADF 11 will be described in further detail.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ADF 11 includes a document tray 12 and an outputtray 14, which are arranged vertically in this example embodiment. Thedocument tray 12 is configured to receive a stack of sheets, asdocuments, to be read. The output tray 14 is configured to receiveejected sheets.

The ADF 11 further includes a feeder 42 and the reading portion 24. Thefeeder 42 is configured to pick up a single sheet 9 or other type ofrecording medium from sheets placed on the document tray 12 andautomatically feed the sheet along a feed path 16 to the output tray 14.The reading portion 24 is configured to read an image formed on a firstsurface 9A of the sheet 9 in a middle of the feed path 16. It is notedthat the first surface 9A faces down when the sheet 9 is placed on thedocument tray 12, and an opposite side to the first surface 9A isreferred to as a second surface 9B.

The feeder 42 will be described in further detail with continuedreference to FIG. 8.

In the feeder 42, the feed path 16 is defined by a first feed path 26, acurved feed path 27, and a second feed path 28. The first feed path 26extends from the document tray 12 to the left. The curved feed path 27connects to the first feed path 26 and is curved in an arc from thefirst feed path 26 downward. The second feed path 28 connects to thecurved feed path 27 and extends from the curved feed path 27 to theupper right toward the output tray 14.

The feeder 42 includes a feeder body frame 30, an upper guide 34, alower guide 36, and an upper cover 32. The feeder body frame 30, theupper guide 34, and the lower guide 36 make up a base member. The uppercover 32 covers a left part of the upper guide 34. The feeder body frame30 is box-shaped and constitutes a bottom surface and side surfaces ofthe ADF 11. The upper guide 34 defines a part of the first feed path 26and is shaped like a plate which extends from the document tray 12 to alocation close or proximate to a supply unit 50. The lower guide 36defines a part of the second feed path 28 and is shaped like a plateextending from below a main roller 64 to a location close to an ejectionunit 70.

The left end of the upper cover 32 is pivotally supported by the leftend of the feeder body frame 30. Although not shown, when the right endof the upper cover 32 is raised, the top of the first feed path 26 isexposed such that cleaning around the reading portion 24 and clearing ofpaper jamming can be performed.

The upper cover 32 includes inside reinforcing ribs 191, 192. With theupper cover 32 closed, the reinforcing ribs 191, 192 protrude downwardand extend from the right end of the upper cover 32 to the left endthereof. The reinforcing ribs 191, 192 of the upper cover 32 areconfigured to guide an upper surface of the sheet fed from the documenttray 12 and constitute a part of the first feed path 26 and the curvedfeed path 27.

The main roller 64 is disposed at the left end of the feeder body frame30 and under the left end of the reinforcing rib 191. The inner wallsurface of the feeder body frame 30 at the left end, the left ends ofthe reinforcing ribs 191, 192, and an outer peripheral surface of themain roller 64 are configured to guide a sheet fed through the firstfeed path 26 toward a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction. Inother words, the inner wall surface of the feeder body frame 30 at theleft end, the left ends of the reinforcing ribs 191, 192, and the outerperipheral surface of the main roller 64 constitute at least a portionof the curved feed path 27.

A lower portion of the inner wall surface of the feeder body frame 30and the lower guide 36 are configured to guide a sheet fed through thecurved feed path 27 toward the output tray 14. In other words, the innerwall surface of the feeder body frame 30 at the lower side and the lowerguide 36 constitute at least a portion of the second feed path 28. Asshown in FIGS. 5 and 8, a lower surface 31 of the feeder body frame 30of the ADF 11 includes an opening 84. The opening 84 is located in aboundary between the curved feed path 27 and the second feed path 28.When the sheet passes the opening 84, the sheet fed through the secondfeed path 28 is exposed to the main unit 20 at the opening 84.

The sheet fed from the curved feed path 27 toward the second feed path28 passes through the opening 84 over the first glass 79 disposed in themain unit 20. At this time, the document separation member 81, which isdisposed between the first glass 79 and the second glass 80, separatesthe sheet from the first glass 79 and reliably guides the sheet towardthe second feed path 28.

As shown in FIG. 8, the feeder 42 includes the supply unit 50, a feedingunit 60, and an ejection unit 70.

The supply unit 50 is disposed downstream from the document tray 12 inthe sheet feeding direction, and is configured to pick up a sheet fromthe sheets 9 placed on the document tray 12 and supply the sheet towarda downstream side. The supply unit 50 includes a pickup roller 52disposed above the upper guide 34, a separation roller 54, and aseparation pad 57.

The separation roller 54 is disposed substantially in the middle of afirst rotation shaft 56 which is rotatably supported at its front andrear ends by the feeder body frame 30. The first rotation shaft 56 isdriven by a drive source 99 (shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 7) comprised ofan electric motor and gears, and rotates in a predetermined direction(e.g., clockwise in FIG. 8). Accordingly, the separation roller 54rotates along with the first rotation shaft 56.

The first rotation shaft 56 pivotally supports a holder 58. The holder58 encloses the separation roller 54 and extends toward the documenttray 12. The holder 58 rotatably supports the pickup roller 52 in theextending portion. The pickup roller 52 is coupled to the first rotationshaft 56 via gears (not shown) disposed in the holder 58. Thus, when thefirst rotation shaft 56 rotates, not only does the separation roller 54rotate, the pickup roller 52 also rotates (e.g., in a clockwisedirection). Accordingly, the holder 58 is configured to pivot so as topress the pickup roller 52 down toward the upper guide 34.

According to this embodiment, the separation roller 54 faces theseparation pad 57. The separation pad 57 is pressed against theseparation roller 54 from below. The separation pad 57 is typicallyformed of a suberic material and is configured to slidably contact afirst surface 9A of a sheet or other recording medium passing on theseparation pad 57 and to exert a great or significant frictional forceagainst the sheet.

The pickup roller 52 is configured to rotate while in contact with asecond surface 9B of the sheet (or other recording medium) placed on thedocument tray 12 to apply a force to the sheet (or other recordingmedium). The separation roller 54 is also configured to rotate while incontact with the second surface 9B of the sheet fed by the pick uproller 52 to also apply a force to the sheet or other recording medium.In some configurations, when a few sheets are passing between theseparation roller 54 and the separation pad 57, only the uppermost sheetin contact with the separation roller 54, is separated from the sheetsdue to the frictional force of the separation pad 57, and fed to adownstream side in the sheet feeding direction. The sheet is fed betweenthe pickup roller 52 and the upper guide 34 and between the separationroller 54 and the separation pad 57, the supply unit 50 constitutes thefirst feed path 26 along with the upper guide 34 and the reinforcingribs 191, 192 of the upper cover 32.

The feeding unit 60 is configured to feed the sheet picked up from thedocument tray 12 by the supply unit 50 along the curved feed path 27 andthe second feed path 28. The feeding unit 60 includes a feed roller 61and a pinch roller 65. The feed roller 61 is disposed on the left of theseparation roller 54 (on a downstream side in the sheet feedingdirection from the separation roller 54 in the middle of the first feedpath 26). The pinch roller 65 is disposed facing the feed roller 61. Thefeeding unit 60 further includes the main roller 64, which is disposedin the curved feed path 27, and pinch rollers 62, 63, which are disposedfacing the main roller 64.

The feed roller 61 is disposed substantially in the middle of a secondrotation shaft 66 which is rotatably supported at its front and rearends by the feeder body frame 30. The second rotation shaft 66 is drivenby the drive source 99 and rotates in a predetermined direction (e.g.,clockwise in FIG. 8), as with the first rotation shaft 56. Accordingly,the feed roller 61 rotates along with the second rotation shaft 66.

The sheet fed by the separation roller 54 is nipped by the feed roller61 and the pinch roller 65. The feed roller 61 is configured to rotatewhile in contact with the second surface 9B of the sheet to apply aforce to the sheet. The feed roller 61 and the pinch roller 65 alsoconstitute the first feed path 26.

The main roller 64 is disposed around a third rotation shaft 67 which isrotatably supported at its front and rear ends by the feeder main frame30. The third rotation shaft 67 is driven by the drive source 99 androtates in a predetermined direction (e.g., clockwise in FIG. 8) as withthe first and second rotation shafts 56, 66. Accordingly, the mainroller 64 rotates along with the third rotation shaft 67.

When the sheet fed by the feed roller 61 passes over the reading portion24, the sheet is nipped by the main roller 64 and the pinch roller 62,and is subsequently nipped by the main roller 64 and the pinch roller 63on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction. The main roller64 rotates while in contact with the first surface 9A of the sheet,thereby applying a force to the sheet, and feeds the sheet toward thedownstream side of the second feed path 28. The main roller 64 and thepinch rollers 62, 63 constitute the curved feed path 27 along with theleft inner wall surface of the feeder main frame 30 and the left ends ofthe reinforcing ribs 191, 192 of the upper cover 32.

The ejection unit 70 is configured to eject the sheet, which is fedthrough the second feed path 28 by the feeding unit 60, to the outputtray 14. The ejection tray 70 includes an ejection roller 72 and a pinchroller 74, which are disposed on the right end of the lower guide 36 (onthe downstream side of the second feed path 28). The ejection roller 72is disposed around a fourth rotation shaft 71 which is rotatablysupported at its front and rear ends by the feeder main frame 30. Thefourth rotation shaft 71 is driven by the drive source 99 and rotates ina predetermined direction (e.g., counterclockwise in FIG. 8), as withthe first, second and third rotation shafts 56, 66, 67. Accordingly, theejection roller 72 rotates along with the fourth rotation shaft 71. Inoperation, the sheet fed along the second feed path 28 is nipped by theejection roller 72 and the pinch roller 74, and ejected to the outputtray 14. The ejection roller 72 and the pinch roller 74 constitute thesecond feed path 28 along with the inner bottom surface of the feedermain frame 30 and the lower guide 36.

As with the main unit-side reading portion 25, the reading portion 24may use a contact image sensor (CIS). The reading portion 24 is disposedon the downstream side from the feed roller 61 in the sheet feedingdirection such that its reading surface faces the first feed path 26. Inthe first feed path 26, the reading portion 24 is disposed downstreamfrom the feed roller 62 and upstream from the main roller 64, and thefirst surface 9A of the sheet fed in the first feed path 26 passes overthe top surface of the reading portion 24. The main scanning directionof the reading portion 24 is generally parallel to the left side surface20B of the main unit 20 and the reading portion 24 is disposed closer tothe left side surface 20B than the right side in the left-rightdirection.

According to another aspect, a white member 76 is disposed above thereading portion 24. The white member 76 is elastically urged by a coilspring toward the reading portion 24. While being pressed toward thereading portion 24 by the white member 76, the sheet fed from the feedroller 61 passes the top surface of the reading portion 24. The whitemember 76 and the top surface of the reading portion 24 (e.g., a glassmember covering the top of the image sensor) also constitute the firstfeed path 26. The output signals (including image data) of the readingportion 24 are transmitted to the control circuit board 201 via theflexible flat cable 7A disposed between the ADF 11 and the main unit 20,as shown in FIG. 7. The control circuit board 201 creates print data toprint an image on the first surface 9A of the sheet based on the outputsignals of the reading portion 24, or controls the image forming unit29, and performs various controls for forming an image on a recordingmedium.

When the ADF 11 is used and operates, the main unit-side reading portion25 moves to an image reading position 18 (FIG. 8) and stops there. Inthis state, the top surface of the main unit-side reading portion 25faces the second feed path 28 via the opening 84. The sheet fed by thefeeding unit 60, at some point, will reach the image reading position 18on the first glass 79. At this point in time, the second surface 9B ofthe sheet passes over the top surface of the main unit-side readingportion 25. The sheet is separated from the first glass 79 by thedocument separation member 81.

The white member 82 is located opposite to the main unit-side readingportion 25 when the main unit-side reading portion 25 is standing by inthe image reading position 18 via the first glass 79. The white member82 is elastically urged by the coil spring toward the main unit-sidereading portion 25 standing by in the image reading position 18. Thesheet fed along the second feed path 28 passes over the top surface ofthe main unit-side reading portion 25 while being pressed toward themain unit-side reading portion 25 by the white member 82. The mainunit-side reading portion 25 reads the image formed on the secondsurface 9B of the sheet. The output signals of the main unit-sidereading portion 25 are transmitted to the control circuit board 201 viathe main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B. The control circuit board 201performs various controls described above. The first glass 79 and thewhite member 82 constitute the second feed path 28 through which thesheet passes.

Automatic document reading operation of the ADF 11 will be described infurther detail.

As shown in FIG. 8, the user places one or more sheets 9 (or otherrecording media) on the document tray 12 such that leading ends of thesheets 9 are inserted into the supply unit 50. When the user operatesthe operation panel 3 to start automatic document reading by the ADF 11,the control circuit board 201 controls the feeder 42 and the readingportion 24 in the ADF 11 to begin an automatic document readingoperation. The sheets 9 placed on the document tray 12 are individually(e.g., a single sheet at a time) picked up and fed along the feed path16. In the first feed path 26, an image formed on the first surface 9Ais read by the reading portion 24. The sheet is further fed along thefeed path 16, and when the sheet passes the curved feed path 27, it isinverted. The second surface 9B of the sheet faces downward in thesecond feed path 28. An image formed on the second surface 9B is read bythe main unit-side reading portion 25, and the sheet is ejected to theoutput tray 14. This operation is automatically repeated until thesheets on the document tray 12 have been read and no sheets remain onthe document tray 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, the multifunction apparatus 10 includesthe flexible flat cable 7A and the main unit-side flexible flat cable7B. The flexible flat cable 7A is configured to electrically connect thereading portion 24 of the ADF 11 and the control circuit board 201 ofthe main unit 20 and to transmit the output signals of the readingportion 24 to the control circuit board 201. The main unit-side flexibleflat cable 7B is configured to electrically connect the main unit-sidereading portion 25 and the control circuit board 201 in the main unit 20and to transmit the output signals of the main unit-side reading portion25 to the control circuit board 201.

According to one or more arrangements, the flexible flat cable 7A andthe main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B are cables with multi thincovered conductors united into a strip. Generally, flexible flat cablesare susceptible to damage such as breaks due to excessive twisting andrepeated bending or pulling, and are sensitive to static electricity andelectromagnetic wave noise (which, for example, may leak from the powersupply portion 202 and/or the drive source 99). Thus, in this exampleembodiment, a routing layout as further described below is used for theflexible flat cable 7A and the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B toprevent and minimize such damage and interference/sensitivity.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 (cross sectional view taken along the line C-Cof FIG. 4), the upper end of the flexible flat cable 7A is connected toan end on the rear side of the reading portion 24 whose main scanningdirection is the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 9, the flexibleflat cable 7A extends from the end on the rear side of the readingportion 24 toward the bottom surface of the ADF 11, and extends along abottom portion of the feeder main frame 30 of the ADF 11 toward the rearside of the ADF 11. The flexible flat cable 7A further extends downwardthrough a cable insertion hole 31B formed in the bottom portion on therear side of the feeder main frame 30 toward an opening 20C formed inthe top surface on the rear side of the main unit 20. In some examples,the cable insertion hole 31B may be long and thin in the left-rightdirection and formed slightly longer than a width of the flexible flatcable 7A. Additionally or alternatively, the cable insertion hole 31Bmay be formed longer than a thickness of the flexible flat cable 7A inthe front-rear direction. Thus, the flexible flat cable 7A is smoothlymovable in the cable insertion hole 31B and is prevented from beingtwisted. The lower end on the rear side of the ADF 11 integrallyincludes a cover portion 31A. The cover portion 31A is disposed in frontof the cable insertion hole 31B, is shaped like a plate, and protrudesdownward.

As shown in FIG. 12, the opening 20C is rectangularly shaped, located tothe left of the hinge member 49L, and positioned slightly to the rightof the center of the first glass 79. As shown in FIG. 9, the opening 20Chas a depth (internal space) downward in which a guide unit 300 isinserted. The internal space is defined in the frame constituting themain unit 20. Even with the guide unit 300 inserted, the internal spacehas a further space extending rearward and downward, which is referredto as a cable storing portion 20D.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the guide unit 300 includes a lid portion309, a side wall portion 308 extending downward from the right end ofthe lid portion 309, and a rib 301 protruding leftward from the frontend of the side wall portion 308. As shown in FIG. 12, with the guideunit 300 inserted in the opening 20C, the lid portion 309 is flush withthe top surface of the main unit 20. The rib 301 is generally shapedlike a flat plate which is vertical relative to the lid portion 309. Therib 301 has an upper end 301A, which is vertically spaced apart from thelid portion 309 and is bent downward (e.g., resulting in a hook-likeshape).

The guide unit 300 includes a space holding portion 302, which isattached to and extends from the rear end of the side wall portion 308and protrudes leftward. The space holding portion 302 is spaced apartfrom and facing the rib 301 in the front-rear direction. The upper endof the space holding portion 302 is connected to the rear end of the lidportion 309. The space holding portion 302 includes a generally flatportion 302A and a generally cylindrical portion 302B. The generallyflat portion 302A is generally shaped like a flat plate, which isvertical relative to the lid portion 309, and extends downward from thelid portion 309. The generally cylindrical portion 302B is connected tothe generally flat portion 302A and has a cylindrical shape or C-shape.The generally cylindrical portion 302B is not closed in acircumferential direction, and an end 302C of the generally cylindricalportion 302B is vertically spaced apart from and facing the upper end301A of the rib 301. The generally cylindrical portion 302B protrudesfurther rearward than the generally flat portion 302A. This protrudingportion makes an escape portion 303 above the generally cylindricalportion 302B and at the rear of the generally flat portion 302A. In theguide unit 300, a side surface opposite to the side wall portion 308 viathe rib 301 and the space holding portion 302 is exposed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the flexible flat cable 7A, which hangs down throughthe cable insertion hole 31B toward the opening 20C, passes through theescape portion 303, is routed along the rear surface of the spaceholding portion 302, extends vertically, and is curved upward in thevicinity of the bottom portion of the cable storing portion 20D. In theescape portion 303, the cover portion 31A is located between theflexible flat cable 7A and the rear surface of the space holding portion302.

The flexible flat cable 7A is further routed along the front surface ofthe space holding portion 302, extends generally vertically upward, andpasses between the termination 302C of the space holding portion 302 andthe upper end 301A of the rib 301. Then, the flexible flat cable 7Achanges its course downward along the shape of the upper end 301A (e.g.,following and/or adhering to the curvature and shape of upper end 301A).The flexible flat cable 7A is routed along the front surface of the rib301, and extends further downward generally vertically. In oneparticular example, the flexible flat cable 7A may be fixed to the frontsurface of the rib 301 with a double-faced tape 301B. Other types ofadhesives or adhesive materials, mechanical or electromagnetic securingmechanisms and the like may also be used.

As shown in FIG. 9, the rib 301 fixes a predetermined portion of theflexible flat cable 7A and holds the flexible flat cable 7A to allowslack therein between the fixed portion and the cable insertion hole 31Bin a U-shape when viewed along the left-right direction (the rotationaxis R1). Accordingly, a generally U-shaped slack portion 700 can besecured. The space holding portion 302 supports the generally U-shapedslack portion 700 by maintaining generally straight portions 702A, 702B,a predetermined distance apart. The predetermined distance is set so asto maintain that the curvature of the curved portion 701 equals orexceeds a curvature that prevents or minimizes damage such as breakseven if the flexible flat cable 7A is repeatedly bent. An antistaticmember 709 (for example, a known antistatic tape) covers a portion ofthe flexible flat cable 7A that is on a side closer to the generallystraight portion 702A than the generally straight portion 702B and maybe exposed outside by vertical movement of the ADF 11.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the ADF 11 pivots around the rotation axis R1and is positioned in the open state with respect to the main unit 20,the guide unit 300 raises the generally straight portion 702A, which iscloser to the ADF 11 than the generally straight portion 702B, whilemaintaining the shape of the curved portion 701 of the flexible flatcable 7A at the space holding portion 302. At this time, as thegenerally straight portion 702A is moved upward (due to the movement ofthe ADF 11), the curved portion 701 is also pulled upward. However, thecurvature of the curved portion 701 can be maintained such that thecurvature is greater than or equal to the specified curvature becausethe space holding portion 302 maintains the distance between the opposedgenerally straight portions 702A and 702B. When the ADF 11 pivots aroundthe rotation axis R1, the lower end of the ADF 11 on the rear side, theflexible flat cable 7A and the cover portion 31A move frontward.However, as the guide unit 300 includes the escape portion 303, thelower end of the ADF 11 on the rear side, the flexible flat cable 7A andthe cover portion 31A can enter the escape portion 303. In other words,the formation of the escape portion 303 can provide for a space that thelower end of the ADF 11 on the rear side, the flexible flat cable 7A andthe cover portion 31A can enter, without having to increase the size ofthe apparatus in the front-rear direction, and reliably reduce thepossibility of the flexible flat cable 7A being caught between the lowerend of the ADF 11 and the cover portion 31A.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the ADF 11 is in the open state, the coverportion 31A covers the flexible flat cable 7A from the front side. Thus,exposure of the flexible flat cable 7A to the front side of the mainunit 20 can be eliminated and the flexible flat cable 7A can be reliablyprotected.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the ADF 11 moves up with respect to the mainunit 20, the generally straight portion 702A, which is on the side closeto the ADF 11, and the curved portion 701 of the flexible flat cable 7Aare moved upward. When the generally straight portion 702A moves up, thecurved portion 701 is pulled upward as a result. However, as the curvedportion 701 moves along the cylindrical portion 302B of the spaceholding portion 302, the curvature of the curved portion 701 can bemaintained so as to be greater than or equal to the predeterminedcurvature. Even when the generally straight portion 702A, which is on aside close to the ADF 11, moves up and its surface is exposed outside,the surface is covered by the antistatic member 709. Without hinderingthe movement of the flexible flat cable 7A, the antistatic member 709protects the flexible flat cable 7A from electrostatic discharge andcontact.

The guide unit 300 is configured to guide the flexible flat cable 7Asuch that the flexible flat cable 7A can follow the pivotal or verticalmovement of the ADF 11. As the space holding portion 302 can prevent thecurvature of the curved portion 701 from becoming too small, theflexible flat cable 7A can be prevented from damage caused by beingexcessively bent. Furthermore, since the flexible flat cable 7A is fixedat the predetermined portion to the front surface of the rib 301 withthe double-faced tape 301B (or other adhesive or fixing mechanism), theflexible flat cable 7A is not displaced with respect to the guide unit300. When the ADF 11 pivots or moves up or down with respect to the mainunit 20, the space holding portion 302 can guide the flexible flat cable7A reliably.

The guide unit 300 is provided separately from the main unit 20. Forexample, guide unit 300 may be non-destructively detachable from andattachable to main unit 20. As shown by a chain double-dashed line inFIG. 14, the flexible flat cable 7A is previously fixed to the rib 301of the guide unit 300 with the double-faced tape 301B, and then theguide unit 300 is combined with the ADF 11. When the guide unit 300 isviewed from the rotation axis R1, the side surface opposite to the sidewall portion 308 via the rib 301 and the space holding portion 302 isreleased. The flexible flat cable 7A can be easily inserted into theguide unit 300 from the released side surface. Thus, the flexible flatcable 7A can be easily routed along the space holding portion 302 andthe rib 301 and fixed to the front surface of the rib 301 with thedouble-faced tape 301B. When the ADF 11 is attached to the main unit 20,the columnar portions of the hinge members 49R, 49L (only 49L shown inFIG. 6) are inserted into the guide holes 20A, the lower end side of theflexible flat cable 7A is inserted into the opening 20C and the cablestoring portion 20D, and then guide unit 300 is inserted into theopening 20C from the released side (front side) of the ADF 11 andmounted therein. In this manner, the guide unit 300 can be easily fittedinto the opening 20C, which achieves simplification of the assemblyoperation. The flexible flat cable 7A can be easily replaced with a newcable by, for example, removing the guide unit 300 from the opening 20C.

The following will describe the routing layout of the flexible flatcable 7A which extends below the point at which the flexible flat cable7A is fixed to the rib 301.

As shown in FIG. 15, the flexible flat cable 7A runs along the frontsurface of the rib 301, extends downward in a generally straightfashion, changes its course rearward, then changes its directiondownward before reaching the top of a frame member 20E (FIG. 16)disposed inside the main unit 20. As shown in FIG. 16, the frame member20E is dish-shaped and extends horizontally. A left end of frame member20E is positioned above the upper end of the control circuit board 201.A first holding member 111 is formed in the middle of the frame member20E, and a second holding member 112 is formed on the right side of thefirst holding member 111. A first ferrite core 121 is disposed on theleft side of the first holding member 111, and a second ferrite core 122is disposed on top of the first ferrite core 121 in layers.

The first and second holding members 111 and 112 and the first andsecond ferrite cores 121 and 122 may form and constitute a contactprevention mechanism. In one or more arrangements, the first holdingmember 111 may have a first height different from a second height of thesecond holding member 112. In another arrangement, the first holdingmember 111 may be disposed in a vertically higher position than thesecond holding member 112.

In FIG. 15, the frame member 20E is omitted for the sake of clarity inillustrating and describing the routing layout of the flexible flatcable 7A. In FIG. 15, it is assumed that the first holding member 111provided in the frame member 20E as shown in FIG. 16 is located directlyunder a portion 711 where the flexible flat cable 7A changes its coursefrontward.

As shown in FIG. 16, the first holding member 111 includes a first stepportion 111A, a first flat portion 111B, and a first pressing portion111C. The first step portion 111A is recessed downward with respect tothe top surface of the frame member 20E. The first flat portion 111B isdisposed above the first step portion 111A. The first pressing portion111C is disposed above the first flat portion 111B. As shown in FIG. 17,the flexible flat cable 7A extends over the first step portion 111Atoward the front from the portion 711 where the flexible flat cable 7Achanges its course frontward, then is twisted and bent at an angle of 45degrees and changes its course rightward under the first flat portion111B. The flexible flat cable 7A is bent further along the right sidesurface and the top surface of the first flat portion 111B in agenerally U-shape, and extends leftward. With this state andconfiguration, the flexible flat cable 7A is vertically caught andsecured between the first pressing portion 111C and the first flatportion 111B. Accordingly, the first holding portion 111 can route theflexible flat cable 7A toward the control circuit board 201 and fix theflexible flat cable 7A.

As shown in FIG. 15, the flexible flat cable 7A is inserted into thefirst ferrite core 121. The first ferrite core 121 is configured toattenuate noise included in electrical signals transmitted by theflexible flat cable 7A. Then, the flexible flat cable 7A extends abovethe control circuit board 201, and changes its course downward. A firstconnector 131, which is flat and used for the flexible flat cable 7A, isdisposed in an upper portion of a surface of the control circuit board201 facing leftward. The flexible flat cable 7A is inserted into thefirst connector 131 from above and thus is electrically connected to thefirst connector 131.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the main unit-side flexible flatcable 7B is connected to the end portion of the main unit-side readingportion 25 on the rear side. The main scanning direction of the mainunit-side reading portion 25 is the front-rear direction. As shown inFIG. 15, after extending to the rear side of the main unit 20, the mainunit-side flexible flat cable 7B extends downward in a generallystraight fashion. At this point, the main unit-side flexible flat cable7B is disposed in parallel with and to the right of the flexible flatcable 7A. The main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B subsequently changesits course rearward, then changes its course downward before reachingthe top of the frame member 20E (FIG. 16).

In FIG. 15, the frame member 20E is omitted for the sake of clarity ofthe routing layout of the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B. In FIG.15, it is assumed that the second holding member 112 disposed in theframe member 20E shown in FIG. 16 is located directly under a portion721 where the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B changes its coursefrontward.

As shown in FIG. 16, the second holding member 112 includes a secondstep portion 112A, a second flat portion 112B, and a second pressingportion 112C. The second step portion 112A is recessed downward withrespect to the top surface of the frame member 20E. The second flatportion 112B is disposed above the second step portion 112A. The secondpressing portion 112C is disposed above the second flat portion 112B.The second holding member 112 is disposed at a higher position than thefirst holding member 111, and arranged alongside of the first holdingmember 111 in a direction toward the control circuit board 201 (in theleft-right direction).

As shown in FIG. 17, the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B extendsover the second step portion 112A toward the front from the portion 721where the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B changes its course tothe front, then is twisted and bent at an angle 45 degrees and changesits course rightward under the second flat portion 112B. The mainunit-side flexible flat cable 7B is bent further along the right sidesurface and the top surface of the second flat portion 112B in agenerally U-shape, and extends leftward. With this state andconfiguration, the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B is verticallycaught and secured between the second pressing portion 112C and thesecond flat portion 112B. Accordingly, the second holding portion 112can route the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B toward the controlcircuit board 201 and fix the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B.

The main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B extends to the left from thesecond holding member 112 and runs parallel to the flexible flat cable7A to the left in a state where the flat cables 7A and 7B overlap eachother vertically (in the direction of thickness of the flat cables 7Aand 7B). At this point, as the second holding member 112 is disposed ata position higher than the first holding member 111, a space between theflexible flat cable 7A and the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B canbe maintained in the thickness direction (vertically), and thus contactbetween the flat cables 7A and 7B can be prevented. If the firstpressing portion 111C has sufficient thickness, the main unit-sideflexible flat cable 7B may be placed on the top of the first pressingportion 111C. Thus, even with this arrangement, the vertical spacebetween the flat cables 7A and 7B can be reliably maintained.

As shown in FIG. 15, the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B isinserted into the second ferrite core 122. The second ferrite core 122is configured to attenuate noise included in the electrical signalstransmitted by the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B. As the secondferrite core 122 is disposed on top of the first ferrite core 121, thespace between the flat cables 7A and 7B can be reliably maintained inthe thickness direction (vertically), and the flat cables 7A and 7B canbe prevented from contacting each other. Both of the first and secondferrite cores 121 and 122, which are used to reduce noise, serve as thecontact prevention mechanism, thereby simplifying the structure of theapparatus.

The main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B extends above the controlcircuit board 201, and changes its course downward. A second connector132, which is flat and used for the main unit-side flexible flat cable7B, is disposed in an upper portion of the surface of the controlcircuit board 201 facing leftward and spaced apart from the firstconnector 131 downwardly. The main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B isinserted into the second connector 132 sideways while being bent in agenerally L-shape and thus is electrically connected to the secondconnector 132. The main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B may be insertedinto the second connector 132 from below to above. In one or morearrangements, the second connector 132, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and16, may be disposed substantially parallel to the first connector 131.

As shown in FIG. 15, a starting point L1 of an overlap section betweenthe flexible flat cable 7A and the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7Bcorresponds to a location/point at which the flexible flat cable 7Aextends downward from the reading portion 24 in a generally straightfashion and then makes a turn in a horizontal direction that is parallelto the rotation axis R1 (in the left-right direction), or alocation/position at which the flexible flat cable 7A is held by thefirst holding portion 111. An ending point L2 of the overlap section isa location where the flexible flat cable 7A is inserted into the firstconnector 131. In this embodiment, both flat cables 7A and 7B areconnected as described above, to shorten the overlap section from L1 toL2. The first and second connectors 131 and 132 are spaced at apredetermined distance apart and the flat cables 7A and 7B are insertedinto the respective connectors 131 and 132 in different directions.Thus, at the ending point L2, the flat cables 7A and 7B can be connectedto the respective connectors 131 and 132 while maintaining a spacebetween the flat cables 7A and 7B in the thickness direction (in theleft-right direction). Accordingly, when the flat cables 7A and 7B areinserted into the respective connectors 131 and 132, the cables 7A and7B are unlikely to obstruct each other. Thus, the flat cables 7A and 7Bcan be easily inserted into the respective connectors 131 and 132.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 15, a wiring cable 7C is disposed betweenthe ADF 11 and the main unit 20. The wiring cable 7C is configured toelectrically connect the feeder 42 of the ADF 11 and the control circuitboard 201 of the main unit 20. The wiring cable 7C is also configured totransmit a control signal from the control circuit board 201 to thedrive source 99 of the feeder 42 and transmit a detection signal of adocument detection sensor included in the feeder 42 to the controlcircuit board 201.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the wiring cable 7C is connected toa location which is on the left side of the drive source 99 and apartfrom the reading portion 24 and the main unit-side reading portion 25.As shown in FIGS. 3 and 15, the wiring cable 7C is routed downward alongthe inner wall of the left side surface 20B of the main unit 20 andapart from the flexible flat cable 7A and the main unit-side flexibleflat cable 7B. Wiring cable 7C is further connected to the controlcircuit board 201. The wiring cable 7C is electrically connected to thecontrol circuit board 201 at a location apart from the first and secondconnectors 131 and 132. In other words, as shown in FIG. 3, when viewedfrom the rear side of the multifunction apparatus 10, the wiring cable7C is routed on a side close to the left side surface 20B, which iscloser to the reading portion 24 than the main unit-side reading portion25, and spaced apart from the flexible flat cable 7A and the mainunit-side flexible flat cable 7B. Thus, even if noise occurs in thewiring cable 7C on the feeder 42 side, the flexible flat cable 7A andthe main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B may be rendered insensitive(or less sensitive) to the noise. In addition, the route path of thewiring cable 7C on the feeder 42 side can be shortened.

In the multifunction apparatus 10, the control circuit board 201 isdisposed as described above to narrow the width of the apparatus 10. Asshown in FIG. 3, when viewed from the rear side of the multifunctionapparatus 10, the flexible flat cable 7A is disposed closer to a flatsurface P, which extends along and parallel to the control circuit board201, than is the hinge member 49L. In FIG. 3, the flexible flat cable 7Ais shown from one end connected to the reading portion 24 to the portion711 where the flexible flat cable 7A changes its course frontward. Inaddition, the flexible flat cable 7A extends vertically straightlybetween the ADF 11 and the main unit 20. Thus, the twisting and bendingportions of the flexible flat cable 7A can be reduced in the routingpath from the reading portion 24 of the ADF 11 to the control circuitboard 201 of the main unit 20.

The reading portion 24 and the control circuit board 201 are disposedclose to each other and the flexible flat cable 7A is disposedstraightly between the reading portion 24 and the control circuit board201. Thus, using the above described arrangement, the routing path ofthe flexible flat cable 7A can be shortened.

Further, using aspects described above, the multifunction apparatus 10can reduce damage to the flexible flat cable 7A such as breaks andnoise, and accordingly reduce irregularity in an image during imagereading process and image forming process.

In the multifunction apparatus 10, the reading portion 24 and theflexible flat cable 7A connected to the reading portion 24, and the mainunit-side reading portion 25 and the main unit-side flexible flat cable7B connected to the main unit-side reading portion 25 are arranged closeto the control circuit board 201, and thus routing paths of both theflat cables 7A and 7B can be shortened. With this arrangement, in therouting paths, the flat cables 7A and 7B can be held and positioned onlyby the first and second holding members 111 and 112. Thus, the apparatuscan be simplified in structure.

In the multifunction apparatus 10, the reading portion 24 includes acontact image sensor extending in the front-rear direction that isperpendicular to the rotation axis R1. As shown in FIG. 9, one end ofthe flexible flat cable 7A is connected to the end on the rear side ofthe reading portion 24. Thus, the routing path of the flexible flatcable 7A can be shortened and noise in an output signal of the readingportion 24 transmitted by the flexible flat cable 7A can be reducedand/or minimized reliably.

The multifunction apparatus 10 includes two reading portions 24 and 25and is configured to read both surfaces of a document. If no measuresare taken, the flexible flat cable 7A and the main unit-side flexibleflat cable 7B are likely to cross each other and the routing layout maybecome complicated. In particular, if any measures are not taken in themultifunction apparatus 10 where the ADF 11 including the readingportion 24 pivots or moves up or down with respect to the main unit 20,the routing path of the flexible flat cable 7A may become complicated inthe vicinity of the rotation axis R1 and the flexible flat cable 7A maysustain damage such as breakage or result in noise due to being pulledor bent when the ADF 11 pivots or moves up or down. In the multifunctionapparatus 10, however, the flexible flat cable 7A is routed as describedabove, thereby reducing and/or minimizing a tendency to cross theflexible flat cable 7A and the main unit-side flexible flat cable 7B.Such an arrangement further simplifies the routing layout of the cables7A and 7B in apparatus 10. In addition, even when the ADF 11 pivots ormoves up or down around the rotation axis R1, the flexible flat cable 7Ais unlikely to sustain the damage such as breakage, by which theadvantageous effect of the invention can be obtained.

In the multifunction apparatus 10, as the contact prevention mechanism,the first and second holding members 111 and 112 and the first andsecond ferrite cores 121 and 122 prevent the flat cables 7A and 7B fromcontacting each other in the overlap section (e.g., from L1 to L2).Thus, the flat cables 7A and 7B are more unlikely to sustain damage suchas noise in the signals transmitted by the flat cables 7A and 7B,attributing to contact therebetween. Irregularity in image data of adocument may also be reliably prevented.

In the multifunction apparatus 10, the rib 301 of the guide unit 300holds the generally U-shaped slack portion 700 of the flexible flatcable 7A. Thus, even when the flexible flat cable 7A is pulled withpivotal or vertical movement of the ADF 11, the generally U-shaped slackportion 700 can absorb the positional change in the routing path of theflexible flat cable 7A and prevent excessive tension on the flexibleflat cable 7A. In addition, the generally U-shaped slack portion 700 canreduce a tendency to cause the flexible flat cable 7A to be twisted orbent excessively. Thus, the flexible flat cable 7A can follow thepivotal or vertical movement of the ADF 11 reliably. As a result, theflexible flat cable 7A is unlikely to sustain damage such as break ornoise in a signal transmitted by the flexible flat cable 7A and thusirregularity in image data of a document can be reliably prevented.

Although an illustrative embodiment and examples of modifications of thepresent invention have been described in detail herein, the scope of theinvention is not limited thereto. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the embodimentand examples of modifications disclosed herein are merely illustrative.It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be solimited thereby, but is to be determined by the claims which follow.

1. A multifunction apparatus configured to perform an image formingprocess where an image is formed on a recording medium and an imagereading process where an image of a document is read, the multifunctionapparatus comprising: a main unit including: an image forming unitconfigured to form an image on a recording medium; and a control circuitboard configured to control the image forming unit and to performcontrols for forming the image on the recording medium; an openable unitincluding: a document tray on which a document is placed; a feederconfigured to feed the document placed on the document tray along a feedpath; and a reading portion disposed facing the feed path and configuredto read an image of the document passing through the feed path; a hingemember disposed on both a rear side of the main unit and a rear side ofthe openable unit, the hinge member connecting the main unit and theopenable unit such that the openable unit is pivotable around a rotationaxis relative to the main unit; and a flexible flat cable configured totransmit an output signal of the reading portion to the control circuitboard, wherein the control circuit board is disposed generally paralleland closer to a first side surface of the main unit than to a secondside surface of the main unit opposite the first side surface, whereinthe first and second side surfaces are perpendicularly adjacent to therear side of the main unit, wherein the reading portion is disposedcloser to the first side surface of the main unit than to the secondside surface of the main unit, and wherein, when viewed from the rearside of the main unit, the flexible flat cable extends verticallystraightly between the openable unit and the main unit, and a firstdistance between the flexible flat cable and a flat surface is less thana second distance between the hinge member and the flat surface, whereinthe flat surface extends along and parallel to the control circuitboard.
 2. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thereading portion includes a contact image sensor extending in a directionperpendicular to the rotation axis of the hinge member, and wherein oneend of the flexible flat cable is connected to a rear side of thecontact image sensor.
 3. The multifunction apparatus according to claim1, wherein, when viewed from the rear side of the main unit, the hingemember is disposed closer to the first side surface of the main unitthan to the second side surface of the main unit, and is verticallyaligned with a center of gravity of the openable unit.
 4. Themultifunction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge memberincludes two hinge subportions, wherein at least one of the hingesubportions is disposed closer to the first side surface of the mainunit than to the second side surface, and wherein the at least one ofthe hinge subportions includes a free stop mechanism that is configuredto stop the openable unit at an angle.
 5. The multifunction apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a wiring cable configured toelectrically connect the feeder of the openable unit and the controlcircuit board of the main unit, and wherein, when viewed from the rearside of the main unit, the wiring cable is routed apart from theflexible flat cable and closer to the first side surface of the mainunit than to the second side surface.
 6. The multifunction apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the main unit further includes: a topsurface configured to open and close along with pivotal movement of theopenable unit, wherein the top surface includes a document receivingsurface, and a main unit-side reading portion configured to read animage of a document placed on the document receiving surface, whereinthe reading portion is further configured to read an image formed on afirst surface of the document passing through the feed path, wherein themain unit-side reading portion is configured to read an image formed ona second surface of the document opposite to the first surface, andwherein the control circuit board is further configured to control theimage forming unit based on the output signal of the reading portion andthe output signal of the main unit-side reading portion, such that theimage forming unit forms images on the recording medium based on imagedata for the images formed on the first and second surfaces of thedocument.
 7. A multifunction apparatus configured to perform an imageforming process and an image reading process, the multifunctionapparatus comprising: a main unit including a control circuit boardconfigured to perform controls for forming an image on a recordingmedium; an openable unit; a supporting member disposed on both a rearside of the main unit and a rear side of the openable unit, thesupporting member connecting the main unit and the openable unit suchthat the openable unit is pivotable around a rotation axis relative tothe main unit; and a flexible flat cable configured to transmit anoutput signal from a reading portion of the openable unit to the controlcircuit board, wherein the control circuit board is disposed generallyparallel and closer to a first side surface of the main unit than to asecond side surface of the main unit opposite the first side surface,wherein the first and second side surfaces are perpendicularly adjacentto the rear side of the main unit, wherein the reading portion of theopenable unit is disposed closer to the first side surface of the mainunit than to the second side surface of the main unit, and wherein, whenviewed from the rear side of the main unit, the flexible flat cableextends vertically between the openable unit and the main unit and afirst distance between the flexible flat cable and a flat surface isless than a second distance between the supporting member and the flatsurface, wherein the flat surface extends along and parallel to thecontrol circuit board.